How did you get involved in MMA and how long have you been training?
-I actually started training as a way to lose weight. I was a fatty boom boom with no motivation or direction before I started training, so this sport has certainly changed my life for the better. I began my training at the original Launceston Combat Club in Tasmania, Australia, which my now husband created and ran. A year later I moved to Brisbane, Queensland, the fight Mecca of Australia, to further my training and career. I have only been training for less than 3 years!
Where are you currently training, and what's a typical training week like for you?
-I'm currently training at Impact MMA in Capalaba, Queensland and have been a part of the fight team for over 18 months now. I have awesome coaches in MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Kickboxing, but I also getting training in at other gyms in the state which boast MMA champions, Muay Thai world champions and former NCAA wrestlers! This current fight camp has been 8 weeks long, 6 days a week, 2-3 sessions a day for 2-3 hours a session. My rest day has been Sunday's, where I don't get up to much other than playing with my children and puppy. It’s safe to say that I'm over this fight camp and I cannot wait to jump in the cage on January 5th and go to work.
Tell us about your upcoming fight, who you're fighting and where?
-Originally I was scheduled to fight Joanne Calderwood but after Claudia Gadelha came down with an injury I was offered the Invicta Strawweight Championship bout against Carla Esparza which I jumped on immediately. Very rarely do great opportunities come along! When they do, you grab them with both hands, turn around, run as fast as you can and never look back. The fight is happening on the Invicta Fighting Championships 4 card in Kansas City, KS and I can't wait to land in America and show everyone how tough us Aussies really are. Someone is going to sleep in this fight and I'm at peace with that, as long as it's a fight to remember. Not the first time it will have happened to me and it surely would not be the last time either, so I'm going in there to take it all or lose it all. I want to shock the world and be remembered damn it!!
What was your reaction when asked to be the first Aussie to fight for Invicta?
-I actually broke down into tears when my manager slapped me in the face to wake me up and tell me. Being signed by Invicta was a goal I had been working towards since the organizations inception earlier this year and to be the first ever Australian signed is an honor that I don't take lightly.
What is your best experience as a fighter? What is your worst?
-My best and most memorable experience would be my debut fight. Even though I lost by knockout, it was a big achievement for me considering I only gave birth to my son Enson less than a year earlier and was fighting two weight divisions above my own. My worst experience would be my last fight, where my opponent from Egypt was denied entry into Australia and an opponent far less experienced stepped up to face me. I'm very thankful that she did as it meant I got paid but it certainly did not feel nice beating her up the way I did. I fight to test myself and so that I can someday be remembered. I certainly don't fight so that I can beat on lesser fighters than myself!
What advice would you give to other women who are reading this interview and want to get started in MMA?
-Don't let the occasional fat, smelly perverted man scare you away and always make sure to have fun. MMA can be a positive thing in anyone's life and it’s great for weight loss, self defense or growing your confidence. Without MMA, I would still be binge drinking on weekends, still be overweight and still be going nowhere in my life!
What are some of the hurdles that you think Women in MMA need to overcome before Women's MMA will be considered a top level sport like Men's MMA is today?
-It’s all about understanding, exposure, marketing and personalities. The real truth is that most promoters don't care about how well you can fight; they care about how many tickets you are able to sell. Females have two arms, two legs and a heart beat just like any male and anything we don't have that a male does have doesn't affect our fighting ability. The reason why females are now getting the chance to fight in the UFC is solely because of Ronda Rousey. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there have been many others before her that have put in the work that deserve credit, but because of Ronda's personality and marketability, the largest fight organization is finally giving WMMA a chance and rightfully so! MMA will never be considered strictly a sport. Its sports entertainment at its core and the sooner female fighters understand this, the sooner more larger scale opportunities will come up.
What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?
-I don't really model myself after anyone as I like to be known as an individual. I know exactly who I am, who I want to be and where I want to go!
Who are your favorite MMA fighters?
-Tough question as I have so many fighters I could list. I guess I can give you my top five male fighters, but they are contradictions. My favorite male fighters of all time would have to be Nick Diaz, Enson Inoue, Georges St. Pierre, Jason Miller and Australia's Adrian Pang. If you've never seen my last choice, search him on YouTube! My favorite female fighter would probably be Michelle Waterson, but I do like other fighters such as Miesha Tate, Charmaine Tweet, Julie Kedzie, Sarah D’alelio and Elaina Maxwell.
How do you enjoy your free time when not training or fighting?
-A part from spending time with my two children and puppy, I enjoy playing Call of Duty on the Xbox. If I'm not in camp I enjoy eating, a lot LOL!
Of course we have a few questions for the male readership as well.
Are you single?
-I'm actually married to Australian MMA fighter Dan "The Riot" Hyatt and have two young children.
What do you look for in a guy?
-I stopped looking for a guy years ago!
What are your turn-ons?
-I love a man that can cook. My husband knows how to cook, but he is very lazy LOL!
What are your turnoffs?
-Whenever something or someone touches my feet. I can't stand it; it sends shivers up my spine!
What would you say is your best feature?
-My best feature would have to be my mind. I believe I can do anything I set my mind to and so far I haven't been wrong!
Any future plans or dreams?
-My never ending goal is to continue developing my skills set and knowledge. My immediate goal is to defeat Carla Esparza on January 5th for the Invicta FC Strawweight Title!
Any shout outs you would like to make?
-Thank you for interviewing me Mike and please be sure everyone to check out my official website at www.rowdybec.com and follow me on Twitter @RowdyBec! Without my awesome gym Impact MMA and trainers, I would not be where I am today and a big thank you must go out to all my fantastic sponsors who have helped fund my training camp for this fight - Unrivaled, Flex Nutrition, Tussle Fight Wear, Manion Plumbing, MMAApparel.com, Hoodstar, Awakening, Promo Shack, Kevrimney.com, NRF Australia, Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia, Ringcard Girls International, MMA-QLD.com, ACR Security Protections and Crossbone Tattoos :)
Thank you very much for your time Bec and good luck on fight night! For more on Bec “Rowdy” Hyatt stop by her new website, follow on Twitter @RowdyBec, like on Facebook and YouTube.
